Going Beyond the ABC’s of an MPS Business

Managed Print Services Connect (Aug 22 2012) Blogs , Resellers , Workflow

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   By Corey Simpson, Director of Member Communities, CompTIA

   What was once a market focused on the large vendors’ enterprise customers has now become a significant opportunity for SMB-oriented solution providers and dealers. Managed print services have come to the masses, allowing organizations of all size to benefit from the programs’ improved operational efficiencies and greater business flexibility. The market expansion of MPS and BPS (basic print services) is tremendous, projected to grow 11.7% annually over the next three years, according to the IDC Worldwide and U.S. Managed Print Services and Basic Print Services 2012-2015 Forecast and Analysis. And while much of that increase can be attributed to the business community’s productivity needs, awareness and sales programs developed through the collaborative efforts of manufacturers and their channel partners have surely made an impact.

    

   While the business opportunities for MPS continue to grow, it can be difficult for solution providers to find the resources they need to develop or expand their own business practice. Vendor-neutral training and educational programs can be costly, and access to quality market research and innovative marketing tools can be limited. That lack of availability was one reason that CompTIA, along with a number of experienced print professionals, assembled a collaborative peer group, the MPS Community.         

    

   Our mission statement highlights the group’s desire to “accelerate the successful adoption of Managed Print Services, for both end users and solution providers. We will define, develop and deliver standardization and certification; enabling CompTIA members and certified professionals to benefit and succeed through knowledge transfer and education.” Our entire focus is the MPS industry: identifying the gaps in industry resources and programs, developing those tools and materials, and making them accessible to our members. 

    

   With the MPS Community’s guidance, CompTIA created a “Quick Start to Managed Print Services Guide,” with industry-tested best practices and the strategic steps required to open a new specialty practice. At our group meeting during Breakaway 2012, we discussed plans for introducing our upcoming MPS Trustmark program, an industry best practices’ business accreditation designed to ensure print practice excellence. This designation will set a standard for MPS providers, awarded only after successful completion of program process reviews and a corresponding test.

    

   The MPS Trustmark will identify companies that have built a print practice based on industry-vetted methods, raising the bar on service delivery and improving end user adoption. Final design and beta testing are expected to start soon, with the full program launched later in 2012. Along with the CompTIA PDI+ and CDIA+ certifications, the Trustmark will allow document imaging professionals to up their game, attracting new customers and improving their own operational efficiencies. 

    

   That’s just a couple of our high-profile MPS Community activities. At Breakaway, we tackled a number of important, ongoing initiatives, including:

    

   1. Creating new training programs: from professional business accreditation to entry-level reseller education, including sales and operations
   2. Developing end user educational materials
   3. Completing a survey of individuals going through MPS training programs
   4. Undertaking an end user study for MPS
   5. Creating educational information for VARs interested in MPS
   6. Developing a roadmap of related, emerging technologies

    

   Would you like to join in the MPS Community discussion?  Contact me with your interest or questions at CSimpson@comptia.org.

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